by Neal

Declared Award – FREE !!!

Don’t Hate Me and PLEASE Don’t Unfollow Me. PLEASE? Why is this such a scary post?

K. So, I’ve debated whether or not to write this post. For lots of reasons which I’m sure you will soon see. I logged onto my blog today to see that I had been nominated for two different blog awards by  two different bloggers. Thanks Ladies!! So, the thing is, I’ve also been nominated by some other fabulous bloggers. (Names have been removed to protect the innocent) And these were all in the past few months. But, here’s the deal, the award kind of bothers me a bit. Please don’t stop reading! I couldn’t quite figure out why. Then, I ran across another blogger that said it reminded her of those chain letters you used to get when you were a kid.

EXACTLY.

I enjoy getting these little awards, I do. What I don’t enjoy is having to tell everyone I received them and then having to send them to others. What about the people that don’t receive awards? Does that make them less worthy? Does that put their blog in the not worth reading pile? How does one choose a blog to give an award to anyway? What is their thought process when selecting the 10 blogs that they MUST pass the award on to?

I’ve been very up and down with my thoughts on awards and because quite frankly, the whole thing doesn’t sit well with me. I just keep feeling bad for not passing along the love. I blog as an escape. I like to have a pressure valve and I find that through blogging. The feeling that someone is listening to my blog is amazing and keeps me going. I deeply appreciate the thought and that everyone is listening (more like reading). I hope this does not alienate anyone who reads and enjoys this blog. I treasure you all. Every time I wake up in the middle of the night and throw my thoughts into the world, it helps to know that they are not lost in the darkness, but reach some real people who appreciate and relate to some of them.

I promise I’m not an ungrateful person. Here’s what I try to do to show the love to my fellow bloggers out there and what you can do for me if you like me still. (oh I hope you do)

Leave Comments.

Actually Read an entire post and think about it.

If you love a post, share it.

If you love my blog, share it.

Get to know me by reading my blog.

Link back to me when you were inspired to write something by something I wrote.

Please tell me I’m not the only one that cringes a tiny bit at these awards? And please tell me someone is still reading this. If you don’t know what any of this is about, then just disregard this post .

49 thoughts on “Declared Award – FREE !!!”

  1. Personally, I love the little awards – it shows someone is thinking about your blog when nominating – which is huge in mind, because you’ve made an impression.
    I also think we’re in a community that does express appreciation and support – so (in my somewhat naivete) it’s amazing for me to see other blogs receiving these because it sets a benchmark for me and/or gives me inspiration to read a blog that I haven’t come across yet.
    I also think, in nominating, you’re showing love to blogs that didn’t necessarily know you were a fan? Regardless of if you follow them or not.
    Obviously this is a completely personal perspective and I’m sure many would disagree with me, but that’s my take 🙂

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  2. I appreciate your perspective Jade. Everyone has their own take and I appreciate that. I gave my reasons and you gave yours and this is how I enjoy blogging the most 🙂

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  3. As a newbie, I don’t feel all that qualified to voice an opinion. But that has never stopped me before 😉
    I think it is a marketing tool, to get your blog out there for the public to view. So, that is a positive. Otherwise, it is almost like those books “TOP COLLEGE STUDENTS IN AMERICA” in which your name appears for some bizarre, unknown reason, and you are encouraged to purchase a hard copy for the low-low price of only $79.99, if you act today. At least your honor comes from somebody’s heart and doesn’t cost you a dime.

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  4. Mostly enthused by your posts. There’s always something to think about which is not what I have been reading everywhere. Moreover you write just beautifully. It is like a human and not a book. Awards – no. But have nothing against those who like. Ironically, none given me so far.😛 Follow 1st, 2nd and 5. I think this is enough. 😀

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  5. I’ve been blogging for years and don’t know anything about any awards. That’s fine. They do sound like chain letters. That was really popular on facebook. Might still be, I quit that. I really don’t need anything else to feel obligated to do, so I’m with you on that. I would recommend gracefully accepting the award and then only giving out awards if you want to, and how many you want to. Something like that needs to be heartfelt, not a matter of picking out 10 bloggers you HAVE to pick. But, that’s just me.

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  6. Maybe you don’t like the attention for your blog because that is not why you do it. From what I have read so far you speak (write) from your heart, mind and soul about almost everything that you see or bothers you. Some find it interesting but you do inspire some speculation with the posts you have. Sometimes it makes me curious and sometimes I question myself. It is interesting and I hope you are flattered by it. Congrats btw

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    1. Looks like someone’s reading me pretty well. Yes, I don’t like attention and I feel anxious when something happens to me all a sudden. Thanks for such heartwarming compliments. Feels great to have someone who puts an effort to understand my inner demons 😛

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  8. A) Truthfulness and risk-taking are the stuff of genuine connections.
    B) This post is the best explanation for not accepting awards…wonderfully and compassionately stated.
    C) I can’t imagine there’s anything you could say that would alienate anyone….you are simply amazing and a blessing.
    D) There are no conditions…I just want you to do what is right for you–and know that it is all right with me.
    E) I have no clue why I listed my thoughts this way… bad cough and cold and brain is fuzzy 🙂
    Thanks for sharing 🙂

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    1. It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being. Thanks for being always with me here truly. You have been an amazing support to me.

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  11. Thanks for the post. It’s not an award. Just like getting a chain letter is not a letter from a Friend.
    I have kindly declined to participate because there are much more meaningful ways to show someone your appreciation for their writing – reposting, quoting parts of their blog, writing a response post to their posting etc.

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  12. I could not agree with you more. Furthermore, by being ‘required’ by the ‘rules’ of the award to nominate a certain number of blogs for the same award, you are bound to end up nominating somebody for the point of nominating. It’s empty, hollow. Like you say, share, reblog, comment, whatever. Show a genuine interest in both the blog’s content and its author.

    Of course, now that you’ve read this comment, you will be visited at midnight by the ghost of a 15 year old girl, who will devour your soul and drag you to hell. Repost this on 13 other blogs to sate her thirst and save yourself!!

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    2. I guess Matt it is necessary to understand that the next person is just as important as you are on this earth. So no one should undermine others based on their current circumstances.

      PS- The ending was satirical & hilarious lol..

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  13. I absolutely understand why you’re making your blog award-free and I’ve had very similar thoughts myself. My way of compromising was to accept the awards and thank the bloggers who tagged and ultimately make it an open tag to pass it on to anyone who wants the award too. I feel like the blogging awards are just a shiny piece of appreciation and it’s nice to get them, but at the end of the day, what stays with me more are the thoughtful comments and interactions with the community 🙂

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  14. I don’t think there are any rules saying that you have to accept an award. If you don’t feel able to participate in or accept awards then the thing to do is to say so as you have done so humbly. Personally I enjoy being nominated, it shows that someone thinks highly enough of your writing to take the time and trouble to do so. You then can accept or decline. I have accepted two awards and there is one pending. It took me two years to ‘accept’ the second, although I eagerly accepted the first. I was new to blogging and it actually made me feel very good being nominated. For the second one, I nominated no one explaining my reasons why – something akin to ‘Sophie’s Choice’. Yes I know – a little bit pretentious, but who cares?! LOL

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  15. I hadn’t thought of it that way Neal – I am still new to blogging so get a little chuffed I guess no doubt after awhile I may come to the conclusions you are now drawing – not sure – either way I wouldn’t stop following you have just worked out that reader is hiding heaps of your posts on me but have found another way in (that isn’t emails) so if you are getting lots of sudden likes from me It is just because I found you again and enjoy your writing 😊

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  16. When I started blogging I enjoyed the recognition and appreciated supporting other bloggers in that way. I even enjoyed writing the responses. When I received more than one of the same kind, I thanked them for recognizing my blog in that way and told them I would add their name at the bottom of my original award post. For example:

    “Since the time I received the Liebster nomination from Juliana at General Gibberish, I have received nominations from jipsybird at Kids Kitchen Kaleidoscope, Lyrallya, Nance at The Moments Matter, Becky G? Oh That’s Me! and Sam at Kinzie’s Kritiques. I very much appreciate the acknowledgment from each of them.”

    After some time I simply wrote the blogger a comment thanking them for the acknowledgement and did nothing else.

    At this point, I wouldn’t go through the award process unless it was something that was very important to me and I think it is safe to say I wouldn’t do it if it required me to figure out ten blogs to pass on. If it was five and there was something about the award that drew me, I would consider it.

    I definitely relate to what you’ve said.

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    1. Thanks for giving such an amazing insight on this. There are times when I feel a tinge of guilt that I’m unable to reciprocate the love showered on me but I’m glad that people here are able to understand my reasons.

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  17. congrats to all of you who commented on this post.though am still new to blogging and didn’t know about the awards.these comments are inspiring. THEN TO YOU NEAL, “I must confess that your posts are engaging me into a soliloquy of its own kind.through them, am rediscovering myself and re-awakening the glow that used to be in my mind when i was in lower primary school. in-fact you are unveiling a new personality in my life through your posts and i think you are becoming my mentor……………………..cant express the amount of happiness i have acquired since i started reading your blog in words….its so much such that i have started infecting my friends with it….actually my life has changed courtesy of you..<@@>

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    1. I’m just speechless to the gratitude you have showered on me Stephen. Such uplifting words..I don’t even know how to reciprocate in return. There’s nothing more satisfying than to hear that my words strike a chord in the life of others. I thank once again from the bottom of my heart for your kindness.

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      1. i bet am the one who should be thanking you because your blogs have made a tremendous positive change in my life..anyway am releasing a new poem today!

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  19. I really loved what you’ve written, I do like awards, but I also agree to the point of what about those who haven’t been nominated.. Their blogs are equally amazing. I like your way of showing love and I’m going to try to follow that 🙂

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  20. Awards are alright. Its ok if people nominate u for them because it shows that your words are able to reach them, which is one of the main purposes of writing blogs; so that you are heard. Awards show the greatness of ur talent but you should now allow them to make you arrogant, which is what you are doing; you are concerned for others and do not think you are the best and thats a really good attribute of a person.
    I just started reading your blogs and they are really interesting and informative. Keep up the great work! 😁

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